untravelled world

I am a part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch wherethrough
Gleams that untravelled world, whose margin fades
For ever and for ever when I move.
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!
As though to breathe were life....

(a wee bit of Tennyson's Ulysses)

wahey! I'm heading to south africa today :)

act 1 ends (sort of)

Finally. And yet it's really just the beginning. Wisely or unwisely, I stayed up to watch the speeches last night live - it felt kind of an historic moment which would not quite the same the next morning - (like watching football highlights a day later...) The consensus? First of all, I thought McCain speech seemed pretty dull and he just grinned funnily after saying serious sentences in a soft voice - a bit unnerving actually - claiming that his change (not Obama's) was change to believe in. I still haven't figured out his strategy about whether he's going to distance himself completely from Bush or not and how it will affect his support. I know it wasn't that significant a day for him, but I didn't think he portrayed himself as 'a leader to believe in' as it said behind him. But, for some reason, I still think he could win.

Clinton's speech was hotly anticipated (and hadn't been leaked before it like the other two) - and as one commentator said, she's moving through the stages of grief-- between denial (that it's actually over) to bargaining (for vp maybe?). No concession yet - so much for unity. At times it seemed like she thought she had actually still won. Obama's speech - more of the same soaring rhetoric on a historically important day (even if not a lot of 'meat' on the bones of his policies/calls for change) and seemed far more inspiring after watching McCain earlier - but is it just rhetoric? All in all, an interesting night which the pundits will tease out as the rest of the week unfolds (and as they waiting for Clinton's next move).

I have no idea why I'm following this race so closely - but given the amount of coverage in the media here, I'm probably not the only one.

surprised by sunshine

This was the perfect way to spend a morning - reading in the sunshine at the park five minutes down the road. (so far, good book by the way...) Sometimes I think I forget that Belfast can actually be really beautiful when the sun shines...

little dreamer

So based on stocki's review and youtube/myspace listening... Little Dreamer is my lastest purchase before I leave sunny Belfast on Friday. I'm in search of new summer music before I go. Anyone any other suggestions??
Check out Beth Rowley... I find it amusing that she started her life an mk :)